With three days left for teams to sign draftees, agreements continue to trickle in. Here’s the latest notable news on that front:
- The Rays have agreed to terms with first-round selection Xavier Isaac. Jim Callis of MLB.com reports (on Twitter) he’ll receive a $2.5489MM bonus that matches the pick’s slot value. The lefty-hitting high schooler is something of a sleeper target for Tampa Bay, as he’d placed just 92nd on the pre-draft ranking at Baseball America. A 6’4″ prep first baseman from North Carolina, Isaac has huge power potential, although BA suggests his hit tool has proven a bit more divisive. The Rays are clearly confident Isaac’s a good enough hitter to clear the high bar associated with the position, paying him first-round money to forego a commitment to the University of Florida.
- The Giants are in agreement with their first-rounder, as Callis reports they’ve come to terms with Reggie Crawford on a $2.2975MM deal (Twitter link). That’s a touch below the $2.49MM slot value that accompanies the #30 overall pick. Crawford is one of the more intriguing players in the class. A first baseman for much of his early time at the University of Connecticut, the left-hander made just 14 pitching appearances between 2020-21. He ran his fastball into the upper-90s and showed a plus slider during his limited mound work, but a Tommy John surgery dashed the Huskies’ chances of getting him into the rotation this spring. Callis notes that Crawford, who has big raw power upside as a hitter, is likely to both pitch and hit during his early minor league career. Baseball America, which placed him as the #59 prospect in the class, suggests he’s more highly-regarded as a pitcher than as a first baseman.
- The Cubs agreed to terms with second-round pick Jackson Ferris on an overslot $3.005MM bonus, Callis reports (Twitter link). The slot value for the #47 pick was around $1.67MM. It’s a typical overslot deal for a high school pitcher whom some evaluators viewed as a first-round talent. The left-hander runs his fastball into the mid-90s, and both BA and Callis praise his curveball and changeup. Baseball America expressed some concerns about his delivery and control, but he owns an impressive enough repertoire the Cubs will buy him out of a commitment to Ole Miss.
- The Brewers have also gone well overslot in the second round, with Callis reporting (on Twitter) they’ve agreed to a $2.35MM bonus for Jacob Misiorowski. The slot value associated with the #63 selection checks in at $1.1MM. Misiorowski, a right-hander from Crowder junior college in Missouri, had been set to attend LSU next year. He checked in 67th in the class according to BA, with a fastball that sometimes clocks triple-digits and a possible plus slider. The 6’7″ hurler has questions about his control and the quality of his third pitch, but Milwaukee is clearly intrigued by his high-powered top two offerings.
- The Red Sox also went well above slot on a mid-round player, as Callis reports they’ve agreed to a $2.5MM bonus with supplemental 2nd-rounder Roman Anthony (Twitter link). The 79th selection comes with a slot value of $820.4K. Anthony, a 6’3″ prep outfielder out of Florida, is credited by both Callis and BA with big left-handed power projection. He has some swing-and-miss concerns and BA suggests he’s likely to move to the corner outfield in pro ball. An Ole Miss commit, Anthony was BA’s #72 prospect.
The Cubs now have as impressive a minor league pitching talent base as just about anyone. And it’s certainly going to get even better this weekend. There is talent spread all through the system and was exactly what Hawkins was brought in to do. I’m impressed even if Callis and his idiot friends aren’t. If you have top notch farm pitching, you can get anything else you want through trades. I’m looking forward to this weekend.
Can’t really argue with this take. For all the doom and gloom Cub fans out there, they actually have a plan. That plan is to stock the farm. The money will be there when it needs to be.
Actually I believe I heard Callis say in an interview, that their agency had Ferris ranked mid first round.
Right. I’m sure some rando posting on MLBTR is much more in tune with minor league depth among all 330 teams knows more than those idiots.
Jed Hoyer g.o.a.t.
Grady—I think the key trade in the next couple of days is what he can pry for Happ. A year later, if there are such things as winners and losers, he clearly won the Bryant, Baez, Rizzo, Marisnick, Kimbrel trades…..none of them helped the acquiring team come close to winning a World Series and Hoyer got a LOT of high end talent for expiring contracts.
The difference with Happ is that he has another year left on the contract and is not a pure rental. That return is critical because there is extra leverage to gain. And, for the first time, of all the guys mentioned he’s a guy who is at the absolute best performance marker of his career right now.
Nobody won the Kimbrell trade. I’m fact everyone lost that trade including the Dodgers.
Whether they are playing or not, the Cubs got two players…..they haven’t hurt the team….ever other team “connected” has been hurt. Sometimes not losing ground is a net gain.
It’s too soon to count Madrigal out. I don’t think his long term future is with the Cubs because I think Hoyer will go big on a SS this winter and Hoerner will move to second. But Madrigal was a first round pick and if he can get past the leg injuries and have a long stretch of playing time, he’s got a chance to be solid.
Nobody won the Kimbrell trade including the Dodgers.
We got ourselves the white otani boys
Reggie’s a brotha
Yep, another clueless comment. Dude could have just said American, but nah.
830, its RoastGobot, ie moron
How many 1B type get drafted out of high school?
Not a lot. And in the 1st round it’s even rarer.
They are not athletic enough
The Red Sox pick of Roman Anthony (at about $1,700,000 over slot) really affect their entire draft. I hope he is worth it.
The Red Sox draft history is beyond pathetic. Very few of their choices make it to the big leagues. They just throw money away. I’m sure this choice will be the same.